10.23.2014

World Series Game 2: So happy

Now the upstart, unbridled, uninhibited Royals are back in business. They've surged back into the nation's consciousness, evening the World Series at one game each as the stage moves to San Francisco.

The Kansas City club landed a sixth-inning haymaker on the Giants and surged to a 7-2 victory in Game 2 of the 110th Fall Classic on Wednesday night with a blue-hued crowd of 40,446 roaring at Kauffman Stadium.

Although – admittedly and somewhat memorably, I guess – many of last night’s highlights will go down as a bit of a blur as I rushed around, keeping up my parental duties while trying to keep at least one eye on the game.

Wednesday nights are church nights for the girls. I usually use the time to stay a bit later at my office and then pick up the girls while Kates stays at the church for her choir practice. Tonight, I did the pickup routine around 7 – as Game 2 was getting underway.

I brought the girls home. Managed to get them settled with some snacks while I caught the bottom of the first inning. Gave Faye a bath with the game going on my phone. Tried to watch the game while I rocked Faye to sleep.

With Faye seemingly asleep, I settled in on the living room couch for the rest of the game.
Kelvin Herrera relieved Yordano Ventura in the sixth inning.

By that time, though, Faye had woken up and was having one of her classic meltdowns, refusing to go back to sleep. Kates brought her down to the living room, and as we struggled to calm her Salvador Perez hit a two-run double. Then Omar Infante hit a two-run shot to give the Royals a huge 7-2 lead. Oh, and there was a little spat at home plate.

He’s been a kid, a prospect, a young player who makes mistakes, a star who carries an offense, and now a proud man with a world of hitting talent focused on making the most of the last decade of his professional life. Butler’s rise has been the Royals’ rise, and if he does leave after this season, it will be a little sad for both sides. It will be the end of something important to both the man and franchise.